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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: branch · spell · coach · trunk · can · mug · craft · scale

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. branch — a division
  4. spell — a short time
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mug — a face
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. spell — letters
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. craft — boats
  12. mug — a cup
  13. spell — magic
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. craft — a skill
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. can — a tin
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. scale — in music
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. scale — size or range
  23. can — a tin
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com